Multiple charger for refrigerant gas

ABSTRACT

The multiple charger consists of an instrument that allows several operations, and allows several norms in only one tool.  
     This charger can be used in any refrigeration or air conditioning system, except the NH3 systems.  
     It could be manufactured with a favorable metal bar like aluminum, bronze etc. it could be conform from left to right or right to left.  
     The hoses should be manufactured according to the norms of pressure, the type of refrigerant and the necessary connectors.  
     In general the manufacturing of this tool must comply with the U.S standards for security, pressure, temperature, and mechanical resistance.

[0001] This application is based upon and claims the benefit of a provisional patent application Serial No. 60/352,107 filed on Apr. 15, 2002 with Confirmation # 1160.

[0002] The present invention relates to the details and characteristic of a charger who to a great extent modifies the traditional chargers to benefit the environment and the Refrigeration technician.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] After visiting several Automotive Repair Shops specializing in Air Conditioning and also visiting the Air Conditioner and Refrigeration Tools distributors, we took account of the great variety of existing Refrigeration Coolant Chargers and also the many methods of charging the systems. This great variety also makes it more difficult to perform this type of work and difficult to be used by technical and the average person in general. It also happens that a great amount of coolant is being released into the atmosphere and in other instances the coolant to produce burns to exposed skin.

OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION

[0004] 1—To allow the charging of refrigerant coolant to be more precise.

[0005] 2—To better protect the atmosphere.

[0006] 3—To protect to a certain extent the people.

[0007] 4—To build a charger which can utilize several connections in a single tool.

[0008] 5—To create a new instrument to benefit the Refrigeration and Air-conditioning Industry.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Using a metal bar that can be bronze, aluminum or another suitable metal, we are going to conform the body of the instrument or combination of instrument/tool. This bar will be cut in a T shape with the correct measures for length, thickness and height according to the pressures that will possible be applied. After the metal bar is cut to size, perforations are made to incorporate the necessary pressure gauges, valves and connectors to fulfill the objective of the charger.

[0010] To this metal piece we will be able to attach and open the small cans of refrigerant gas, oil, freon leak detectors, etceteras. Also we will be able to use and to connect the larger standard refrigerant cylinders or the new norm of coolants as it is the case of 134-A which threads are larger than ¼ of an inch.

[0011] What do we have in the market? We have coolant cylinder 134-A that has threads larger than ¼ of an inch. Also cylinders coolant 409-A, Coolant 22, Coolant 404-A and others that have threads of ¼ of an inch.

[0012] We have two kinds of threads in the coolant cans that are sold: one for 134-A with threads larger than ¼ of an inch and the other cans with others refrigerants with threads less than ¼ of an inch.

[0013] My invention indeed consists in taking the variables above to a single tool and that can be utilized with all of them.

EXAMPLE

[0014] If we are going to use a can of R-134-A, we will screw the can in the appropriate part for this thread size and proceed to open it with the valve designed for this effect (See Graphic # 2). If we are going to use a coolant cylinder, we will use the adequate connection for his type of cylinder on the charger and proceed to fill the equipment with the appropriate valve.

Description of the Charger

[0015] A—Metal bar.

[0016] B—Service valve of high-pressures.

[0017] C—Pressure gauge for high pressure.

[0018] D—Pressure gauge for low pressure.

[0019] E—Valve Pintsch off for cans with threads lesser than ¼ of an inch.

[0020] F—Fitting connector ¼ of an inch for cylinders.

[0021] G—Service valve of charge in the low pressure side.

[0022] H—Fitting connector for cylinder of threads larger of ¼ of an inch like Refrigerant 134-A

[0023] I—Valve Pintsch off. Refrigerant can 134-A

[0024] J—Fitting connection ¼ of an inch standard flare, low-pressure side of the refrigeration system.

[0025] K—Fitting connection, high-pressure side of the refrigeration system.

[0026] L—Connectors at the other end of the hoses.

[0027] As you can see in FIG. 1 (FIG. 1), I have incorporated a pressure gauge of high pressure to be able to measure the two pressures of the system to work with. Also opening and closing the valve of the high side (B) we can communicate with the side of low pressure in case that we want to do a bypass or vacuum synchronized.

[0028] In FIG. 2 (FIG. 2) we can see as this multiple pressure gauge communicates on the inside the valves and fittings.

[0029] In FIG. 3 (FIG. 3) shows the position of the valve of Pintsch off.

[0030] In FIG. 4 (FIG. 4) shows the details of the valve Pinch off.

Procedures

[0031] Part 1

[0032] Filling the system with coolant using a can.

[0033] 1—Move the stem of the service valve in the low-pressure side all the way inside. Closed valve (G).

[0034] 2—Move the stem of Pintsch off valve all the way to the back (open)

[0035] 3—Screw the can until the top of the threads, allowing the seal of the threads

[0036] 4—Lower the stem all the way in. It will allow opening the can.

[0037] At this moment the coolant can is open, but the coolant will not pass to the system because the stem in the needle's base is sealed with the seat of the cylinder. To continue the charge, the lower side of the system should be previously connected to the fitting of the low pressure gauge, and the valve of the high pressure gauge should be closed

[0038] 5—Take the stem of the Pintsch off valve towards the back again. The coolant reaches the seat of the charging valve in the low side (B)

[0039] 6—We can purge through (H) by tightening the screw point.

[0040] 7—Open slowly the valve of charge G and begin to fill the system

[0041] 8—If another can is needed we closed G again.

[0042] 9—Remove the used can.

[0043] 10—Thread the new can and repeat the operation until completing the system

[0044] Observations:

[0045] During the filling, the Pintsch off valve not in used and the fittings of filling (F) (I) are closed by the screw point (core) and also the threaded covers.

[0046] C and K can be used to measure pressure on the high side.

Procedure NZ

[0047] To fill with a refrigerant cylinder:

[0048] 1—With valves (E) (I) closed and the stem completely inwards and threaded cover (male).

[0049] 2—Choose appropriate fitting and connect the hose to the cylinder. You can purge, loosing the nut of the hose or using the Pinch off valve off near the fitting or the other charge fitting.

[0050] 3—High pressure gauge closed ©. Refrigerant system communicated to the low pressure gauge (D).

[0051] 4—Open the cylinder valve.

[0052] 5—Open slowly the valve (G) and start charging, slowly until the system is completed.

[0053] 6—To retrieve the connection: closed the cylinder, disconnect the system and retrieve the hoses.

Procedure #3

[0054] To produce a vacuum on the System.

[0055] 1—Connect the low pressure gauge (D) with the Refrigeration System.

[0056] 2—It is optional to use the high-pressure side

[0057] 3—The Pintsch off valves (E) (I) closed.

[0058] 4—Connect hose from (F) to the vacuum pump

[0059] 5—Open the valve (G)

[0060] 6—Start up the vacuum pump.

[0061] Retiring the vacuum pump.

[0062] 7—Close (G), once completed the vacuum.

[0063] 8—Choose the charge connection either by cans or cylinder

[0064] 9—Purge the pressure gauge head.

[0065] 10—Begin the charge

[0066] Observation: When valve (G) is closed (E) (F) (H) (I) are communicating on the inside which allows to purge correctly.

Function of the Components

[0067] A—Allows base and body of the charger to connect all the components.

[0068] B—Separates the side of high pressure of the low pressure, vacuum, it synchronize the charge with the stopped system and bypass.

[0069] C—Measures pressures of high-pressure side

[0070] D—Measures pressures of low-pressure side Vacuum scale incorporated.

[0071] E—Allows to open cans with threads less than ¼ of an inch for filling of refrigeration

[0072] F—Allows to connect cylinders and vacuum pumps

[0073] G—Allows the filling of the system.

[0074] H—Allows to connect coolant cylinder 134-A Threads larger than ¼ of an inch.

[0075] I—Allows to use cans of R134-A with threads larger than ¼ of an inch.

[0076] J—Allows to connect hoses to the system

[0077] K—Allows threading the other end of the hoses

[0078] Connection Hoses

[0079] It uses standard hoses with standard security norms as far as pressure. It is recommended 750 psg. One end of the hoses is to be ¼ of an inch American flare and the other will be different according to the use. If it is going to be used on an auto which have ends of ¼ on an inch flare then the hoses would be ¼×¼. If the auto has a system of Compression connection the hoses will be ¼×½, etc.

[0080] For this set of pressure gauges to be completed, they need a set of hose compatible in one end to the pressure gauges and in the other end to be compatible with the Refrigerant system being used in.

Advantages

[0081] 1—Allows working with all the norms established by different companies.

[0082] 2—Allows filling more precisely the refrigerant coolant, because when cans are used you do it directly and without pressure gauges

[0083] 3—Protect the persons to be exposed to refrigerant coolant.

[0084] 4—Decrease the amount of refrigerant being released to the atmosphere.

[0085] 5—It can be used for Refrigeration and Air Conditioning systems.

CONCLUSION

[0086] This Multi Refrigerant Charger could be used by:

[0087] Automotive Repair Shops

[0088] Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technicians.

[0089] Technical Schools.

[0090] Shops in General. 

1- It is a claim that (A) in FIG. 1 is a metal bar in a T shape to be able to add the needed accessories like fittings, high pressure gauges and valves. 2- It is a claim that (B) in FIG. 1 is a service valve on the high-pressure side. 3- It is a claim that (C) in FIG. 1 is a high pressure gauge to charge and vacuum. 4- It is a claim that (D) in FIG. 1 is a low pressure gauge. 5- It is a claim that (E) in FIG. 1 is a Pintsch off valve for cans of ⅜ of an inch. 6- It is a claim that (F) in FIG. 1 is a ¼ inch fitting connector for cylinders. 7- It is a claim that (G) in FIG. 1 is a low-pressure valve to charge and vacuum. 8- It is a claim that (H) in FIG. 1 is a fitting connector for systems of ½ of an inch cylinders like R-134-A. 9- It is a claim that (I) in FIG. 1 is a Pintsch off valve for cans ⅜″, ½″ R-134-A. 10- There are claims in FIG. 1 (J and K) when we said that (J) is an exit fitting connector in the low-pressure side and (K) is an entrance connector in the high-pressure side of the pressure gauge. 11- It is a claim in FIG. 4 that (A) is a Pinstch off valve to open the cans and allow the refrigerant charge. 12- There are claims of this application that (H1), (H2), (H3), (H4), (H5) and (H6) are the connector hoses of this pressure gauge in FIG.
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